Egg License Requirements

PURPOSE: This rule establishes license requirements, enforcement actions, and license fees for retailers, dealers, and processors. (1) All persons engaged in buying, selling, trading, or trafficking in, or processing eggs is required to be licensed except— (A) Those who sell only eggs produced by their own flocks, provided such eggs are not sold at an established place of business away from the premises of such producer; (B) Hatcheries that purchase eggs used exclusively for hatching purposes; (C) Hotels, restaurants, and other public eating places where all eggs purchased are served in the establishment; and (D) Bakeries, confectioneries, and ice cream manufacturers purchasing eggs for use and used only in the manufacture of their products. (2) A “retailer’s license” is required for any person selling eggs to a consumer. Along with an application and fee, a “No Tax Due” letter from the Missouri Department of Revenue must accompany application for license and must be provided each year upon renewal. (3) A “dealer’s license” is required for any person who buys eggs from a producer or other dealer(s) to resell to other dealers, processors, or retailers. (4) A “processor’s license” is required for any person who is engaged in breaking eggs or manufacturing or processing eggs into liquid, whole egg meats, yolks, whites, or any mixture without the addition of ingredients, whether chilled, frozen, concentrated, dried, powdered, or desiccated. (5) The director of agriculture shall have the authority to assess egg licensing fees to assist in defraying operating expenses. The license fees are as follows: License Type Fee Egg Licensing Fee—R2-Retailer $25 Egg Licensing Fee—R1-Retailer: Sells at farmers markets or roadside stand $25 Egg Licensing Fee—Dealer-D1:0-100 cases $40 Egg Licensing Fee—Dealer-D4:Over 100 cases $50 Egg Licensing Fee—Processor-P1:0-250 cases $60 Egg Licensing Fee—Processor-P3: 250-1000 cases $75 Egg Licensing Fee—Processor-P4:Over 1000 cases $100 (6) All licenses shall be conspicuously posted in the place of business to which it applies. The license year shall be twelve (12) months, or any fraction thereof, beginning July 1 and ending June 30. (7) No license shall be transferable, but it may be moved from one place to another by the consent of the director. (8) All moneys received from license fees collected hereunder shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the agriculture protection fund created in section 261.200, RSMo. (9) The director may suspend or revoke the license of any dealer, processor, or retailer, or refuse to issue a license to any applicant. After a public hearing, if it is found that such dealer, processor, retailer, or applicant has violated any of the provisions of sections 196.311 to 196.361, RSMo, any such dealer, processor, retailer, or applicant shall have full rights to have counsel, to produce witnesses in his behalf at such hearing, and to have ten (10) days notice in writing of the date, time, and place of such hearing, and the charges and grounds upon which the license is sought to be revoked or suspended, or to be refused a license. The order of suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue a license shall not become final until ten (10) days after the date thereof, and after the party to the proceeding has been notified in writing of the action of the director. Any party to the proceedings that is aggrieved by any final decision or order of the director may appeal such order in the manner provided for such appeals in the Administrative Procedure Act of Missouri (Chapter 536). AUTHORITY: section 196.354, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed March 14, 2024, effective Nov. 30, 2024. *Original authority: 196.354, RSMo 1955, amended 1995.